The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) is a regional government agency, committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment. The Air District accomplishes this goal through regulation of industrial facilities and various outreach and incentive programs designed to encourage clean air choices.

The Air District's jurisdiction encompasses all of seven counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa, and portions of two others - southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma.

The Air District is currently accepting applications for the position of Air Quality Technician I/II for the External Affairs Office and the Engineering Division. This is an open recruitment for two (2) full-time, represented position. One (1) vacancy is in the External Affairs Office, and one (1) vacancy is in the Engineering Division. 

About the positions

The External Affairs Office develops air quality rules, programs, campaigns, and events to advance air pollution and greenhouse gas reduction throughout the Bay Area.  External Affairs messages directly to Bay Area employers through the Commuter Benefits and Flex Your Commute programs and develops large and small events to promote greenhouse gas and air pollution reduction efforts.  The office provides support to the Executive Office on special projects and outreach.  External Affairs works with the Air District’s Board of Director’s and represents the Air District on associations and industry affiliated events.

The Air Quality Technician with External Affairs will support the External Affairs Officer and team, schedule meetings, perform administrative duties, conduct research, and work with the team to fulfill contractual obligations for events and sponsorships.  The Air Quality Technician’s day-to-day work includes researching information and summarizing for use in public documents; preparing clear written communications materials; communicating effectively with both internal and external audiences; and using software tools to manage data and documents. To be successful in this position, the candidate must be organized, have excellent time management and prioritizing skills to meet multiple deadlines; be able to explain technical terms, and Air District jargon through verbal and written communications; be comfortable using various software and web-based tools to compile documents and run reports, and provide good customer service. 

The Engineering Division evaluates permit applications and permit renewals for equipment and operations that emit air pollutants in the Air District’s jurisdiction. The division is responsible for other programs related to facilities with air quality permits, including - but not limited to - the emissions inventory and air toxics programs. The division provides technical support to other agency programs and assists businesses, trade associations, agencies, environmental groups, and community members with issues related to permitting and compliance.

Definition

Under general supervision, performs administrative and some technical work in the areas of engineering permitting activities; transportation/air quality program activities; and performs related work as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Air Quality Technician I is the entry level in this technical classification. Initially under close supervision, incumbents will provide administrative and technical support to staff in areas of engineering programs or transportation/air quality program activities. As technical knowledge and experience are gained, there is greater independence of action within established guidelines and procedures. This class is alternately staffed with Air Quality Technician II and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency which meet the qualifications of the higher level class.

(Illustrative only): 

Composes correspondence independently; establishes and maintains detailed records and files; researches and compiles information from office files and other sources.
 
 Compiles data and prepares periodic and special reports.

Responds orally and in writing to procedural, regulatory and some limited technical questions and requests regarding specific enforcement programs, technical meteorological data, or transportation/air quality programs to District staff, industry, the public and other agencies.

Reviews and verifies data entry for specified enforcement programs, meteorological activities or transportation/air quality programs; corrects or provides for the correction of errors to assure the quality and validity of data entered into and extracted from data bases.
 
 Uses standard statistical methods and established computer programs to prepare summary statistics and special reports, including graphic presentations.
 
 Receives, logs, reviews, processes, evaluates transportation/air quality program surveys, reports, and grant applications in accordance with established procedures and in compliance with regulations.
 
 Receives, logs and answers telephone calls and visitors with questions about specific enforcement programs or transportation/air quality programs.
 
 Coordinate, monitor and follow up on the processing of rules being adopted or amended.
 
 Schedule, attend, and take notes at public workshops.
 
 Prepares periodic and special summaries of aerometric, meteorological and contaminant data for distribution within and outside the District and participates and provides support for special meteorological projects, reports and other activities.
 

Education & Experience

A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills is:

Air Quality Technician I: Equivalent to an associate degree in planning, environmental science, transportation, meteorology, computer science, mathematics or closely related field, and one year of experience in office, program or administrative support experience which involved technical data entry and report writing, or in technical and administrative support work to research activities.

Air Quality Technician II: In addition to the above, two years of experience in the administrative and technical processing of air quality programs or data collection.

How to Apply

Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application, chronological resume, and responses to the supplemental questionnaire by 5:00 p.m. on May 3, 2021. Applications are accepted online; please visit our website at www.baaqmd.gov/jobs to apply. 

Resumes must be attached to the application, and will not be accepted in lieu of the required application materials. Postmarks, faxes, and e-mailed applications will not be accepted.

Except as requested in this announcement, do not include any additional documents, such as letters of recommendation, performance evaluations, work samples, etc. They will not be considered or returned.

Supplemental Questions Instructions

Individuals who apply for this position must respond to each of the required supplemental questions. Applications must be received by the Human Resources Office no later than the time and date specified in this vacancy announcement. The responses to the supplemental application questions will be used in accordance with the procedures indicated under the Selection Criteria section.

Please limit your responses to one page per question. Do not combine your responses or reference your application, resume, or any other requested documentation that you have included with your application packet to answer a question. This information will be evaluated as is and may be used to determine those applicants with the most directly related experience, education, and training to continue in the selection process. It is very important to provide a concise, clear, legible, complete response to each question.

Selection Criteria

Selection may be based upon a competitive examination consisting of a written exercise, interview, or combination of the two. Depending on the number of qualified applicants, an application screening and/or panel interview may be used to determine the most qualified applicants.

The District may hire from this recruitment process to fill future vacancies occurring within the next 18 months.

Persons with disabilities who may require reasonable accommodations during the application and/or selection process should notify the Human Resources Office at (415) 749-4980.